Madrid Expocómic report (with pics)!!!

[Stan Sakai]

Tokage was there? I didn't know she was coming (I should have PM'd her, although she hasn't been posting around for a while). When did she go?

.

Tokage was there throughout most, if not the entire, convention. She was at a couple of my scheduled signings. I never had my camera with me at those times, so was unable to take a photo of her.

[Stan Sakai]

Oops, I forgot to ask something:

Stan, inside the Expocómic sketchbook there's a 4-page story ("Cooking Lesson") which I hadn't seen before. Will this story be reprinted somewhere else? Also, may I post pictures from the sketchbook here? (If you don't want me to post certain things like the story or any of the sketches, please let me know.)

"Cooking Lesson" was Stan's contribution to the 2002 Benefit book Drawing the Line compiled and published by Suley Fattah with all profits going to support two Toronto hospitals for cancer research...

Expocomic published an 88 page Usagi sketchbook. Most of the artwork had been printed elsewhere. Cooking Lesson was in Drawing the Line. However, I showed the entire sequence of the creation of the story--from outline, to thumbnails, to final art. The story, probably without the notes, will be reprinted in an upcoming collection--UY 19 or 20. I don't think there is a need to post the art. I will be receiving copies of the sketchbook, so will have them at San Diego at other events.

[ziritrion]

OK then, thanks for your reply.

[Pekass]

It´s a pitty y finaly couldn´t go, I´d love to meet you Stan, and worst, y told one frend of mine to buy some of the english-version comic-books but he didn´t manage to.
I hope you can have a trip to spain any further in not much time.
P.D:Stan if you come to spain, you should visit Logroño, the city where i live and the one with more cafes/bars per Habitant.
P.P.D: Arg ziritrion, im green of jelous cause i couldn´t go.

[Stan Sakai]

It´s a pitty y finaly couldn´t go, I´d love to meet you Stan, and worst, y told one frend of mine to buy some of the english-version comic-books but he didn´t manage to.
I hope you can have a trip to spain any further in not much time.
P.D:Stan if you come to spain, you should visit Logroño, the city where i live and the one with more cafes/bars per Habitant.
P.P.D: Arg ziritrion, im green of jelous cause i couldn´t go.

Yes, I think your friend did ask if I brought the comics, but I was already carrying a lot of stuff so I did not have room for them.

I have been invited to Spain again, but not to the northern area where, I think, Logrono is. Perhaps Gijon will invite me again, though that is much farther west that you live.

[Usagi]

Wow this is always wonderfull to read these Events that do go on. and all you guys get to meet Stan ^^ One dasy I hope I'll have my chance too!

[ookami]

Me cachis en todo!!!! Darn it all to heck!!!
I went to the Expo Comic Madrid a couple of years ago and it was so pathetic that I was quite dissatisfied.
So when I saw the posters for this year, I thought that the Usagi Yojimbo poster would probably be the coolest thing about the whole Expo. I never gave it another moments thought!
If I had known that our O Sensei would be there I would have crossed the fires of hell to go! Just to see Stan!!
The general expo, (from what I can see in your photos ziritrion), looked 200% better than when I visited a couple of years ago. I swear it was so small and boring that I was in and out of the expo in less than an hour!!!
Shame on the organizers for not publizing the fact that the great Stan Sakai would be present!!
And before anyone mentions that it may have been mentioned before hand on this site: I haven't had net connection for very long and I've only just discovered this great site / forum.
I shall now go and comit seppuku, to relieve the shame of missing the oportunity to meet our master. And then I will keep an eye on the appearance page to see when he's passing thru Spain again.
To Stan: If and when you do come back to Spain, and you see a crazy looking 5'11" girl, (probably in Samurai get-up) cutting through the masses with her Katana: that's me!! I'll even bring you a crate of Bitter Kas! Hee! Hee!
Anywhoo! Thanks to Ziritrion for your great report! I hope to meet you at the next convention. From our descriptions I think we'll be able to spot eachother in the crowds.

[ziritrion]

Hi ookami, welcome to the Dojo . If I ever go again to the Expocomic I'll let you know. You can also come to Barcelona for the Salò del Manga or the Salò del Còmic (the Salò del Manga has grown HUGE, I got there at 9 a.m. and was able to get inside by 12:30 because of people lining up!)

[Stan Sakai]

Hola Ookami,

I'm sorry you did not got to Expocomic. As you may have read in my travel report, I had a wonderful time in Madrid. This was only its 7th year, so the convention is still growing. It was at a new location this year, because it outgrew its former one. However, it was a bit farther away from the city center, so the attendance was a little less. They're hoping to get my friend Matt (Simpsons) Groening next year.

I really enjoy Spain, so will return in a few years. I've already received an invitation to Granada, and hope to go to Barcelona one day. I also enjoyed the Asturias area a few years ago, and hope to go back there.